Whether you are walking through a season of busyness, transitions, or grief, finding time for yourself amidst the chaos of life can be hard. It’s important to care for ourselves through habits that foster mental and physical wellness and activities that bring fulfillment. Taking care of ourselves, juggling responsibilities, and finding time to enjoy hobbies can feel like an impossible task. That’s why we challenge you to start small! Start by taking one tip from this blog that resonates with you most in your season of life, and take a step towards honoring your needs.
Practice Mindfulness
Nurturing your well-being allows you to put your best self forward at work, home, and in relationships. Learning effective strategies and practices that help you tune in with your mind and body can be incredibly healing and re-energizing. Mindfulness can look different for everyone and can adapt to every season. For example, learning new breathing exercises can be helpful when experiencing overwhelming emotions, but they also can be effective as a calming ritual before bed, signaling to your body that it’s time to rest. If you’re a new mom, it might mean taking a quiet moment during nap time to reflect and write about your day. In a busy season, it could be as simple as pausing to say a few words of gratitude before stepping into work. Whatever mindfulness looks like for you, taking a step toward it is a step toward self-compassion.
Sit with Your Emotions
Every season has its unique hardships that can bring heavy and difficult emotions. Confronting those overwhelming emotions by naming them, whether sadness, anger, regret, guilt, or another feeling, is the first step to taking away their power over you. These feelings are all natural. Sitting with scary feelings takes practice, but when you do, their burden can become a little lighter and allow you to honor your emotions in this season of life.
Schedule Activities You Enjoy
Busy routines or unexpected tragedies that occupy our minds can leave us feeling like we’re just going through the motions. Setting aside intentional time to make space for the things you love to do. It can give you something to look forward to, a reason to find joy in the day, and boost your mood. Whether adjusting to a new place or pushing yourself to leave the house, finding something that brings you fulfillment. For solo activities, try hiking, gardening, or learning something new like painting or knitting. If you want to connect with others, consider joining a local adult league for your favorite sport, taking a ceramics or cooking class, or joining a support group to find others navigating similar experiences. When we carve out intentional time to honor our interests and activities, we can take a step towards happiness amidst the challenges this season brings.
Ask for Help
Sometimes life can be a lot to handle on our own. If you’re experiencing a busy season with job changes, dealing with heavy emotions, or adjusting to significant changes, it’s okay to acknowledge you can’t do it alone and need help. Having loved ones or trusted friends you can lean on for support is important. Asking your friend for help watching the kids after school, allowing individuals to make you a meal, or just sharing how you feel, can lift some of the burden you’re carrying. Asking for help might also look like beginning therapy or group counseling to find knowledgeable support or shared experiences with others.
Remember, there is no shame in admitting you can’t do this alone. At Gerst, we know just how hard some seasons can be, that’s why we provide ongoing support through resources and preplanning services to help encourage, share strategies, and connect others amid a hard season.